Breaker-strip construction



April 23; 1957 J. s. PALMER BREAKER-STRIP CONSTRUCTION Filed April 16, 1954- S'fPalmer 2,789,720 I Patented 2,789,720 BREAKER-STRIP CONSTRUCTION JohnSflalmer, Evansville, Ind., assignor, by mesne as- .fsignments, to Whirlpool-Seeger Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application April 16, 1954, Serial No. 423,609

7 Claims. (Cl. 220-9) *This invention relates to an improvement in refrigerator cabinet constructions, but more particularly it is concerned with the breaker strip assembly employed as a heat-break between the inner and outer walls adjoining the access opening of cabinets or chests of this character.

LI-leretofore many devices have been proposed for the purpose of providing an effective heat-break between the -walls of a refrigerated cabinet, but generally such assemblies either contained inherent disadvantages, were costly or difficult to install, or were otherwise ob.- jectionable because the securing means therefor was not concealed and its appearance was not as neat and attractive as it should have been to harmonize with the remainder of the cabinet.

"The present invention, therefore, has for its principal object the provision of a simple, inexpensive, easy to install, and attractive breaker strip assembly that may be readily incorporated in conventional refrigerated cabinets.

Another object is to provide a breaker strip assembly wherein the securing means although concealed from view from the front of the cabinet is readily accessible.

' A further object is to provide a novel means for securing or fastening a preformed breaker strip member between the inner and outer walls of a refrigerated cabinet.

A still further object is to provide a unique arrangement for detachably aflixing a preformed heat-break stripmember in position between the inner and outer walls of a refrigerated cabinet.

. A yet still further object is to provide a simple, yet rugged, breaker strip assembly that may be readily and easily installed between the inner and outer walls of a refrigerated cabinet after substantial completion of assembly of said cabinet.

The foregoing and other objects, which will be apparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by constructions such as illustrated in the accompany ing drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a household type refrigcrator cabinet incorporating the present invention and having-portions of the figure broken away so as to show more clearly the specific application of the invention to a cabinet of this character.

Fig.2 is a. sectional view taken on lines 22 of Fig. 1 and shows a portion of the door and adjacent section of the cabinet wall wherein the proposed breaker strip construction has been incorporated.

Fig. 3 is a sectionalview similar to that of'Fig. 2 but showing the proposed breaker strip construction with a breaker strip member having a slightly modified crosssectional' contour.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be noted a conventional front-opening type of refrgierator cabinet has beenillustratem but, since the present invention is like: wise, applicable to'other types of refrigerated cabinets, itsyapplicatio'n should not belimited to the specific em- 2 bodiment depicted. In the drawing, a refrigerator cabia net indicated in its entirety by thereference character- 10 is provided with a closure in the form of adoor in-- dicated generally by the numeral 11 and, as illustrated, each wall of said cabinet includes an outer shell mem ber 12, an inner liner or shell member 13 and heat insulating material 14 therebetween. The closure door 11,; which is hingedly supported by suitable hinges such as 15, has a resilient sealing member 16 suitably secured to the rear portion thereof that functions to maintain an air seal around the edges of said door, as is well understood. The outer shell and inner liner members are, more or less conventional and are formed with top, }op'-- posite side walls and a bottom, which, for purposes of: drawing simplification, have not been shown in detailor numbered unnecessarily. Shelves of the ripen-type, such as indicated at 17, maybe fixedly or slidably se-.. cured, as desired, by suitableconvention means,(not shown) to the side Wall inner liner member 13. f1

The forward marginal edge of the outer shell member 12 is bent back upon itself and then inwardly turned as indicated at 18 to form a substantially U-shaped, chan-j' nel 19 having parallel spaced-apart legs, extensions or flange-like lips 20 and 21, while the forward marginal edge of the inner liner member 13 is angled over and then bent forwardly to form an outwardly projecting flange-like shoulder or ledge 22 that is substantially L-shaped. Itwill be understood, of .course, thatth'ei entireforward marginal edge of both the outer shell and inner liner members adjacent the door opening are fashioned as indicated since the .breaker strip generally encompasses all of said opening. It will be noted also" that the forward marginal edges of the inner and outer shell members do not lie in the same plane, thus in creasing the length of the heat path therebetween., A; further reason for this deviation will presently become manifest. "f

A preformed breaker strip or heat-break member 23 of substantially a reverse J or hook-shape in cross-section with one long and one short edge portion is'fash ioned from a suitable conventional low-heat conducting plastic or fibrous material of the non-hygroscopid and non-metallic type. Such member may, if desired, be fabricated in a plurality of lengths or sections and then installed end to end around the door opening, but, for purposes of improved appearance, it ispreferred that such member be fashioned so that only one such section or length is required along each side and one each along the top and bottom of the door opening. In this manner exposed joints will occur only near the corners where side sections join the top and bottom sections respectively. r

If desired, the ends of each such length or section may be mitered, such as indicated at 24 in Fig. 1, in order to facilitate assembly, and further to'improve the appearance thereof after the end or side sections are posi-- tioned adjacent respective top and bottom sections;- Suitable cover plates 25 may be provided for positioning over and covering such joints and'conventional securing means (not shown) employed for fixedly locat ing such cover plates or trim. members in positiom The preformed breaker strip member 23 is fashioned preferably with a flattened section 26adjoiningone edge portion thereof and a turned-in lip or fiangevlike extension- 27 along the opposite edge portion thereof,iwhile-the:*intermediate section between said edgesmaynbe formed to; provide a firstintermediate portion 28 and a secondacona tiguous intermediate portion 29 disposedlatzan angleatoir said first portion. While the intermediatewsection in on'e; preferred embodiment hasi'been shown :as' comprisingi twoi fiat angularly disposed portions-itawill-beqappreciatedqshchr 3 may be fashioned in'a single portion and may, if desired,-becurved instead of flat without deviating from the present invention.

The spacing of the parallel flange members 20 and 21 which form the channel 19 of said outer shell is governed by the dimensional thickness of the breaker strip member 23 and is so selected that the flat end portion of said strip may be readily inserted into the channel without damage. This fit however, should be sulficiently tight to avoid rattling or setting up any other vibrational disturban'ces,'and to prevent the ingress of any appreciable quantity of moistureinto the insulating material 14 disposed between said inner and outer shell members.

The turned-in lip or flange portion 27, of the breaker strip member 23, is provided with a plurality of openings spaced at intervals therealong to receive fastening members,'such as the screws 30, which, in turn, are anchored in aligned openings in the flanged shoulder 22 of the inner liner member 13. Although threaded screw-like fasteners have'been shown for illustrating one preferred means for fixedly positioning the edge of said breaker strip member it will be appreciated that other conventional fastening devices, such, for instance, as the popular non-threaded Tinnerman speed clip or the well-known split rivet, may also be used without deviation from the teachings of this invention. It is preferred, however, that the fastener selected be one that may be readily and easily inserted or removed so as to facilitate assembly or replacement of a breaker strip member.

In Fig. 3 there is illustrated a modified form of the proposed breaker strip member. In this form the heatbreak member 23a is fashioned to resemble a distorted reverse J or hook shape in cross-section, and having one long edge portion 26a connected to a first intermediate section 28a of substantial length, a second intermediate section 29a connected to said first section, and a short flange-like inwardly extending edge portion 27a adjoining said second section. Other than as noted the modified breaker strip assembly is identical with the construction indicated as the preferred form and illustrated in Fig-2 and the elements thereof are represented by the same reference characters previously enumerated. This modification is particularly advantageous because it allows for a set back inner liner construction which, in turn, affords greater clearance for the door inner pan member 31, and provides a greater heat break between inner and outer shells.

, In Fig. 2 there is illustrated a brace-like bracket or angle member 32 which may be provided for reinforcing the area adjoining the outer shell member 12 and the respective channel members 20 and 21. A plurality of such ,members may be spaced at intervals along each edge section and suitably secured in place by conventional means such as the welds indicated at 33.

The shelves 17 (only one of which is shown in the drawings) may be fashioned with a forward edge decorative trim member 34 having ends that overlie .the first intermediate portion 28 of the breaker strip member 23, and which, because of such overlie, will tend to conceal some of the unsightliness of the gap usually found between the edges of such shelves and the inner liner member 13. In the present invention this gap serves to compensate for manufacturing inaccuracies particularly in the waviness of the inner shell which at times interferes with the clearance for the shelf supports, and since the gap is substantially hidden from view its presence is more advantageous than otherwise.

a In assembling the breaker strip into the cabinet the flat end portion 26 of each section thereof is inserted into the channel 19, of thetouter shell member 12, and pushed inwardly until the flange or lip 27 on the opposite edge ofsaid breaker strip comes into close contact with the outer surfaces of the L-shaped flanged shoulder or extension ledge22 of the inner shell member 13. When so positioned the openings in said breaker strip will be in alignment with corresponding openings in said angled extension and the fasteners 30 may then be inserted so as to fixedly position said break strip member, while, at the same time, being concealed from view from the front of the cabinet. If desired, a semi-fluid sealer may be applied along the flat long edge portion of the breaker strip before insertion into the channel 19 so as to provide an improved moisture seal around that edge, while the opposite short edge portion 27 may be similarly treated so as to improve the moisture seal between said edge and shoulder flange portion 22 of said inner liner member.

From the foregoing it will now be apparent that the we ent invention provides a highly satisfactory breaker strip assembly, including a means for detachably securing the heat break member in place which, although concealed from view from the front of the cabinet, is readily and easily installed after the cabinet has been substantially assembled. The proposed invention provides a neat, attractive and decidedly inexpensive means for bridging the space between the outer marginal edges of the inner and outer shells of a refrigerated cabinet. In addition it is simple and rugged and may be utilized with conventional cabinets without appreciable alterations thereof. Furthermore, it is very effective for concealing from view manufacturing inaccuracies in alignment of the inner shell walls.

Although only preferred forms of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention of the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a refrigerator cabinet construction, the combination of a pair of spaced apart Walls having insulating material therebetween, a U-shaped channel formed at the outer marginal edge of one of said walls, said U- shaped channel being positioned to have the legs thereof extending toward the other of said walls, the outer marginal edge of the other of said walls being flanged over to provide a ledge tberealong that extends away from the plane of said other wall and toward the interior of the cabinet, a heat-break member fashioned of material having low-heat conductivity and formed with a flange extending along one edge thereof, said heat-break member being positioned to bridge the space between said walls with one edge of the said member extending in tight fitting relation into said U-shaped channel and having the flange along the opposite edge thereof disposed to overlie the ledge on the other of said walls and conceal the said ledge from view, and means detachably tit) securing said flange of said heat-break member to said ledge on the other of said walls.

2. In a refrigerator cabinet construction, the combination of a pair of spaced apart walls having insulating material therebetween, a U-shaped channel formed at the outer marginal edge of one of said walls, said U- shaped channel being positioned to have the legs thereof extending toward the other of said walls, the outer marginal edge of the other of said walls being flanged over to provide a ledge therealong that extends toward the interior of the cabinet and away from said U-shaped channel said ledge and said U-shaped channel being disposed in different planes, a heat-break member fashioned of material having low-heat conductivity, said heat-break member being formed so that opposite edge portions thereof are substantially parallel with the marginal edges thereof in different planes, said heat-break member being positioned to bridge the space between said walls with one edge portion of said member extending in a snugly fitting relation into said U-shaped channel and having another edge portion thereof positioned in abutting relation with said ledge and disposed so as to-conceal'from view the said ledge on the other ofsaid walls, and means detachably securing said another edge portion of said heat-break member to said ledge on the other of said walls.

3. In a refrigerator cabinet construction, the combination of a pair of spaced apart walls having insulating material therebetween, a U-shaped channel formed at the outer marginal edge of one of said walls and positioned so as to have the legs thereof extending toward the other of said walls, an L-shaped angle formed at the outer marginal edge of the other of said walls and arranged so as to have one leg of said L extending in a direction away from said one of said walls, said U- shaped channel and said L-shaped angle being disposed in different planes, a heat-break member fashioned of material having low-heat conductivity, said heat-break member being substantially hook-shaped in cross-section and having an inwardly turned flange along one marginal edge thereof, said heat-break member being positioned to bridge the space between said walls with one edge of said member extending in a snug fitting relation into said U-shaped channel and having said inwardly turned flange of said member positioned in closely overlying relation with the outer surfaces of said L-shaped angle and being further disposed so as to cancel from view the said L-shaped angle of said other of said walls, and means detachably securing said inwardly turned flange of said heat-break member to said L- shaped angle of said other of said walls.

4. In a refrigerator cabinet construction having an outer shell and an inner liner mounted within said outer shell in a spaced relationship therefrom, a U-shaped channel formed at the outer marginal edge of said outer shell and positioned so as to have the legs thereof extending toward said inner liner, the marginal edge of said inner liner being angled over and bent forwardly to form a substantially L-shaped ledge and having one leg of said L arranged so as to extend in a direction away from said outer shell, a heat-break member fashioned of material having low-heat conductivity, said heat-break member being substantially hook-shaped in cross-section and having one long and one short edge portion, said heat-break member being positioned to bridge the space between said outer shell and inner liner with the long edge portion of said member extending in a close fitting relation into said U-shaped channel and having said short edge portion positioned to overlie and conceal from view said L-shaped ledge with the inner surface of said short edge portion of said member closely abutting the outer surface of said L-shaped ledge, and means fastening said short edge portion of said member to said L- shaped ledge of said inner liner.

5. In refrigerator cabinet construction, the combination of inner and outer shells having heat insulation therebetween and provided with a door opening, said shells having edge portions disposed in different planes and spaced apart peripherally of the door opening, a U-shaped channel formed at the outer marginal edge of said outer shell and positioned so as to have the legs thereof extending toward said inner shell, an L-shaped angle extension formed at the outer marginal edge of said inner shell and disposed so as to have one leg of said L extend in a direction away from said outer shell, 2. heat-break member fashioned of material having lowheat conductivity, said heat-break member being fashioned to resemble a hook-shape in cross-section and having one long and one short edge portion, said heatbreak member being positioned to bridge the space between said outer and inner shells with the long edge portion of said member extending in close fitting relation into said U-shaped channel and having said short edge portion positioned so as to overlie and conceal from view said L-shaped angle extension of said inner shell, and means accessible from said door opening detachably afiixing said short edge portion of said member to said L-shaped angle extension of said inner shell.

6. In refrigerator cabinet construction, the combination of inner and outer shells having heat insulation therebetween and provided with a door opening, said shells having edge portions disposed in different planes and spaced apart peripherally of the door opening, a U-shaped channel formed at the outer marginal edge of said outer shell and positioned so as to have the legs thereof extending toward said inner shell, an L-shaped angle extension formed at the outer marginal edge of said inner shell and disposed so as to have one leg of said I. extend in a direction away from said outer shell, a heat-break member fashioned of material having low-heat conductivity, said heat-break member being fashioned to resemble a hook-shape in cross-section and having one long and one short edge portion, said heat-break member being positioned to bridge the space between said outer and inner shells with the long edge portion of said member extending in close fitting relation into said U-shaped channel and having said short edge portion positioned to extend outside the plane of said inner shell and to overlie said L-shaped angle extension of said inner shell whereby said extension is concealed from view from the door opening, and means accessible from said door opening detachably afiixing said short edge portion of said member to said L-shaped angle extension to said inner shell.

7. In refrigerator cabinet construction, the combination of inner and outer shells having heat insulation therebetween and provided with a door opening, said shells having edge portions disposed in different planes and spaced apart peripherally of the door opening, a U-shaped channel formed at the outer marginal edge of said outer shell and positioned so as to have the legs thereof extending toward said inner shell, an L-shaped angle extension formed at the outer marginal edge of said inner shell and disposed so as to have a leg of said L extend in a direction away from said outer shell, a heat-break member fashioned of material having low-heat conductivity, said heat-break member being fashioned to resemble a hook-shape in cross-section and having one long and one short edge portion, said heatbreak member being positioned to bridge the space between said outer and inner shells with the long edge portion of said member extending in close fitting relation into said U-shaped channel and having said short edge portion positioned so as to overlie and conceal from view said L-shaped angle extension of said inner shell, means passing through the short edge portion of said heat-break member and anchored in said L-shaped angle extension of said inner shell detachably securing said member to said angle extension, and having said latter means accessible from said door opening.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

